What Does the Bible Say About Fighting Evil?

Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ...

John 10:10 ESV / 21 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Matthew 5:39 ESV / 21 helpful votes

But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

James 4:7 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Jude 1:9 ESV / 19 helpful votes

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Romans 12:21 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV / 13 helpful votes

But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 11 helpful votes

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...

John 8:32 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

1 John 1:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Timothy 4:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

James 1:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Romans 13:1-14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

James 4:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Ephesians 6:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Revelation 21:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Romans 12:19 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

Matthew 5:38-42 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Genesis 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Romans 12:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Romans 8:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Jeremiah 15:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?

Isaiah 54:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

Proverbs 8:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ...

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Genesis 37:1-36 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Abstain from every form of evil.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ...

1 Corinthians 13:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Romans 10:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 8:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

Romans 7:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

John 14:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 1:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Luke 22:36-39 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

Mark 7:21-22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

Genesis 39:1-41:57 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. ...

Romans 10:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

48 Bible Verses about Fighting Evil

Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV / 68 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 10:10 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:39 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:7 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jude 1:9 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:21 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:32 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 4:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:1-14 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 21:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:19 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:38-42 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 15:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 54:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 8:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 37:1-36 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 7:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 22:36-39 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 7:21-22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 39:1-41:57 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)